Valve for water softening apparatus



Dec. 5, 1950 J. EVANS VALVE FOR WATER SOF'TENING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1946 INVENTOR. Jamv EVA/V5 ATTOENEK Dec. 5, 1950 J. EVANS VALVE FOR WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1946 I N VEN TOR.

Bye/OHM VAN5 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT O FFl CE 2,532,614 VALVE FonWA'rER S'OFTENING APPARATUS John Evans, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor to Mountain .Valve Company, I-nc., Salt Lake City,

Utah, a corporation of Utah Application April 25, 1946, Serial No. 664,820

(or. 25l-"76) 2 Claims. 1 The: present invention relates to water softenm apparatus and deals more particularly with a valving system whereby normal operation of the apparatus is maintained and whereby regenerationsof "a mineral bearingwater softening agent'is easily, efficiently and quickly effected.

Theprimary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved unitary valve structure whereby the water supply is maintained during the process of regenerating the water softening agent employed for normally softening said water supply.

Another: object 'of the invention is to provide av'alving system of the character indicated for first back-washing through the water softening agent, then zp'assing salt water or brine downwardly through said'a'gent, and finally washing out the salt from the-agent to effect regeneration thereof, all being accomplished while a water supply to the 'house'served by the apparatus, is being maintained.

*Another objector the invention is to provide a compactand unitary valve structure embodying novel piston controlled porting means "to effect the mentioned water softener regeneration in a rapid and efficient manner.

-Afurther object of-the invention is to provide an apparatus for regenerating a water softening agent embodying novel means for handling the salt or brine used in the system and for automatically controlling the level of brine in the supply tank.

A further-object of'the invention is to provide a valve of the character indicated, which embodies novel structural features tending toward simplification, efficacy of constructionandoperation, and general compactness and low cost of manufacture.

-My invention alsohas for its objects to provide such means thatare positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in-aworking position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. Howeventhe-drawings merely show'and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the -drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the-several views.

*Fig. l-is-an elevational view, partly 'in vertical 2 section, of a water softening apparatus according to this invention.

"Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a control valve for said apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an end view as seen from the le ft df Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a broken plan sectional view of a handle and means controlling the movement of said handle as used in the valve of Fig. 2.

The apparatus which is illustratedcomprises, generally, a pressure tank 5 filled with awater softening agent or mineral; another tank-Scontaining salt to produce salt water or "brine; a

unitary'valve construction l havinga water inlet 8, a house supply 9, adrain or sewer connection.

it, and connections H and E2 to the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the tank '5; a

brine supply line 13 from the tank 6 to the tank 5; and a float controlled 'v'alve connection '14 from the valve 1 to the tank 6.

The valve 1', as will be later described, is designed, according to the invention, toprovide for a flow from the water inlet 8 through the house supply 9 under all conditions of operation ofthe valve 1. In normal operation, waterirom the inlet 8 is directed, by the valve I through connection H to the top of tank5 so that the water is circulated downward through the water softener in said tank to flow upward in connection i2 to valve l and finally out through the-supply line 9.

When regeneration of the mineral in tank 5 is'desired, the valve l is manually operated to back-wash upward through said tank 5 by di- -,recting the water from'the inlet 8 downwardly through connection E2 to flow upwardly through the mineral in tank 5, then-downwardly in connection H through valve '5 and out through the sewer or drain line Iii. This flow will wash away sediment accumulation'on the surface of the mineral in tank '5. The valve 1 is then operated to direct water from the inlet '8 through the valve and through a vacuum inducing jet iezto the sewer line [0. This flow will cause-an upward flow in connection l2, creating a suction or vacuum in line [3 and connection ll so that brine from tank 6 willilow past check valve'lt to be circulated downward through the mineral in tank 5. The valve l is then operated to close the brine supply and downwardly wash'the salt out of the mineral in tank 5. I The water flow will nowbe from inlet'fi, through connection H, downwardly through tank 5, up through connection [2 and out through sewer line it. During the two latteripo'sitionsof the *valvegla fresh suppl of water is provided for tank 6 through connection |4 to replace brine drawn from said tank. In practice, the sediment washing operation takes about five minutes, the brine circulating operation about ten minutes, and the washing out of the brine or salt takes approximately twenty to thirty minutes. By restoring the valve 1 to its initial position, the apparatus will function to soften water passing from the inlet 8 to the supply 9.

The check valve l6 prevents back-flow through line l3 and remains closed at all times except when flow of brine into tank is desired. The jet I5 is a simple device having a central nozzle l1, downward flow through which induces a downward flow of liquid in the chamber l8 around the nozzle. The means |4 comprises a line l9 from the valve 1, a needle valve 26 in said line controlling an outlet 2| to tank 6, and a float 22 controlling said needle valve 26 when the level of said tank is reached. A screened strainer 23a may be provided in the line I3.

The valve i1 comprises, generally, a pair of valving units 23 and 24 adapted to be manually positioned to control flow through the various lines or pipes 5, 3, H and 52, through a line 25 from the valve to the jet nozzle i1, and through a line 26 from the valve to the jet chamber i8. Said units 23 and 24 are arranged to control flow through castings or fittings 21, 28, 29, 36, 3| and 32 connected to the above lines. Th castings 21, 29, 33 and 3| are generally similar and each is controlled by one or the other of the units 23 or 24. The castings 28 and 32 are similar and are each controlled by both said units.

The valving unit 23 comprises an elongated tube 33 in which is provided radial spaced sets of ports 34, 35, 36 and 31. Within said tube there is provided longitudinal spaced pistons 38, 33 and 46, the piston 36 being normally located between ports 34 and 35, the piston 39 between ports 36 and 31, and the piston 49 between ports 31 and a handle 4|. A fourth piston 4-2 is provided on the other side of ports 34.

The pistons are connected to be moved as a unit with respect to the ports in tube 33. As shown, an axial rod 43 passes through the centers of the pistons, is threaded at one end at 44 into the handle 4| and provided with a nut 45 on its opposite end. A spacing tube 46 is arranged over the rod 43 between pistons 42 and a tube 41 spaces pistons 33 and 39, a similar tube 48 spaces pistons 39 and 43, and a similar tube 49 spaces piston 46 and handle 4!. It will be evident that by moving the handle longitudinally, the pistons can be moved for desired position with respect to the ports in tube 33.

As shown, each piston 38, 33 and comprises oppositely directed, preferably rubber or composition cups a spaced by a washer 53 and held in place by th ends of the respective spacing tubes 46, 41, 43 and 43. To seal around the rod 43, a rubber or composition thrust washer 5| is interposed between said cups 49 and the tube ends bearing thereon.

The valving unit 24 is somewhat similarly formed, including a tube 52 having longitudinally spaced radial sets of ports 53, 54, 55 and 56, a piston 51 at one end similar to piston 42, a handle 56 at the other end, a piston 59 normally between ports 53 and 54, a piston between ports 55 and 55, and a piston 6| between ports 56 and the handle 58. A spacing tube 52 on a rod 53, similar to rod 43, spaces pistons 51 and 59, a tube 64 spaces pistons 59 and 60, a tube 65 space pis- 4 tons 60 and 6|, and a tube 66 spaces piston 6| and handle 58. In other respects the valving units 23 and 24 are similar.

The casting 21 is mounted on tube 52 and is provided with a passage 61 in communication with ports 53. Similarly, casting 3| is mounted on said tube to have its passage 68 in communication with ports 55. Castings 29 and 30 are mounted side-by-side on tube 33 to have their respective passages 69 and 10 in communication with the respective ports 35 and 36. The casting 28 is mounted across both tubes 33 and 52 so that its passage 1| communicates with both sets of ports 34 and 54. Similarly, casting 32 has a passage 12 communicating with ports 31 and 56.

The castings 21 to 32 are fixed to the tubes 33 and 52. An effective manner of accomplishing this is to provide end counterbores 13 in each casting, to heat said castings, and pour solder into the counterbores to firmly fix the castings in place and seal against water leakage around the tubes 33 and 52. By drilling as 14 through adjacent casting, solder may be readily poured into the counterbores.

From the above it will be seen that longitudinal movement of the pistons in the ported tubes 33 and 52 by endwise push or pull on handles 4| and 58, will provide liquid circulation as hereinbefore set forth. The pistons in tube 33 have three positions with relation to the ports in said tube; one as shown; a second with the piston 38 between ports 35 and 36; and a third, with said piston between ports 36 and 31. The pistons in tube 52 have two positions; one as shown, and the other with piston 59 between ports 54 and 55.

Means are provided for guiding the manual positioning of said pistons. For the valving unit 23, said means comprises a collar 15 on the end of the tube 33 adjacent the handle 4|, a radial pin 16 on said collar, a longitudinal plate 11 carried by the handle, and a slot 18 for the pin and which is formed with an offset to have an intermediate abutment 13. For the valving unit 24, said means comprises a collar 66, a pin 8| on the collar, a plate 82 carried by the handle, and a slot 83 for the pin 8|.

In normal operation the valve 1 is set as shown. The water flow is through inlet 8, passage 69, ports 35, tube 33, ports 36, passage 13, and connection into top of tank 5. The water will pass downwardly through said tank to have its calcium and other hardening matter removed, and then will pass upwardly in connection I2, passage 63, ports 55, tube 52, ports 54, passage 1|, ports 34, and house supply line 9. The pressure in connection I! is effective to hold check valve l6 closed during the normal operation. In this position of the valve, the piston 59 serves to check flow of water in line H? during the long periods of time regeneration operations.

When the mineral in tank 5 has become excessively coated with sediment, the regeneration process is started by pulling on handle 4| until the slot abutment 19 engages the pin 16. The water flow will now be from inlet 8, through ports 35, tube 33 and ports 34 to passage 1|, water will fill supply line 9 and will also flow through ports 54, tube 52, ports 55, and connection |2 into the bottom of tank 5 to wash upwardly through the mineral in said tank and wash the sediment therein through connection ports 36, tube 33, ports 31, passage 12, ports 56, line 26, and jet chamber 8, out through sewer drain I0.

With unit 23 in its above-described intermediate position, the handle 58 of unit 24 is pulled axially outward to provide a brine circulation through tank 5. The water flow from inlet 8, after passing through ports 54, passes through ports 53 to fiow in line 19. Said water also flows through line 25 and through the jet l1 into the sewer drain it. Flow from the jet induces suction or negative pressure in chamber 18 which is efiective, through line 26, ports 56, tube 52, ports 55, and connection 12, to draw water from the bottom of the tank 5 into sewer drain l0. Said tank being enclosed, the vacuum created in the bottom of the tank, induces a brine flow from tank 6, line l3, and past check valve 16 into the top of tank 5. The brine thus circulates downwardly through tank 5 as a simultaneous water supply is added to tank 6 as controlled by float 22.

The salt in the mineral is then washed out by slightly rotating the handle 4| past abutment l9 and further pulling on said handle as limited by the end of slot 18.

The house supply remains on and water will now flow upwardly in connection ii, downwardly through tank 5, upwardly in connection 12, through ports 55 and 56, line 26 and jet chamber I8, through drain in.

When regeneration of the water softening agent in tank 5 is completed, the handles 4| and 58 are restored to their initial in positions and normal operation is resumed. Since the pistons are all of the same size, the valve is balanced and will retain its set position until manually moved as above indicated.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A flow control valve comprising an elongated tube open at both ends and having four equally spaced sets of radial ports arranged along the tube, a fitting around the tube and having a chamber in register with each set of ports, a piston within the tube between each open end thereof and the respective end set of ports to seal said open ends to fiow from said latter sets of ports, an axial member rigidly connecting said pistons, a handle on said axial member beyond one end of the tube for moving said piston endwise between the ends of the tube and the respective end sets of ports, a third piston in the tube and fixed to the axial member for movement between a position between one end set of ports and the adjacent set of ports and a position between the latter set of ports and the next adjacent set whereby selective communication between the latter end set of ports and the adjacent set and between their chambers is effected, a fourth piston in the tube and fixed to the axial member for moving between a position between the other end set of ports and the adjacent set of ports and a position between said other end set of ports and the adjacent end of the tube whereby simultaneous selective communication between said latter adjacent sets of ports and between their chambers is effected, a projection carried by the tube at the handle end thereof, spaced abutments carried by the handle and associated with the projection to limit the above movement of the four pistons, one of said abutments being rotationally movable out of engagement with said projection, and a third abutment in the path of further endwise movement of the handle and the axial member whereby upon said further movement said third piston is moved to the initial position of the fourth piston and commen-communication among one end set of ports and the two next adjacent sets of ports and their chambers is effected.

2. The valve characterized in claim 1 and further comprising a second elongated tube open at both ends and having a set of ports in communication with the chamber aligned with the end set of ports of the first tube that is nearest the handle, a second set of ports in communication with the chamber aligned with the other end set of ports of said first tube, a third set of ports between the first two, and a fourth set outward of the second, pistons in said second tube for sealing the ends thereof to flow from the first and fourth set of ports, two other pistons in said second tube, an axial member in the tube rigidly connecting the four pistons therein, and a handle on one end of said member for moving said two other pistons to control fiow between the ports of the second tube and be-- tween said ports and the ports of the first mentioned tube.

JOHN EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 423,105 Allen Mar. 11, 1890 1,523,757 Cordley Jan. 20, 1925 1,620,717 Brice et al. Mar. 15, 1927 1,707,692 TerBeest Apr. 2, 1929 1,751,061 TerBeest Mar. 18, 1930 2,137,406 Johnson Nov. 22, 1938 2,245,767 Eickmeyer et al." June 17, 1941 2,301,176 Elliott Nov. 10, 1942 2,381,501 Knutzen Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 196,991 Great Britain of 1922 

